Washington County offers its visitors and residents things to do, places to visit, and entertainment throughout the year no matter what the season. Here's a small list to get you started...
Annapolis Rock is an overlook, elevation 1762-ft. on the crest of South Mountain, north of route 70. This rock is accessible by the Appalachian Trail.
Belinda Springs, 14 miles south of Hagerstown, was an early 1800s resort owned by Jacob Gardenhour. Jacob named it after his wife; the amenities included cottages, bathhouses, ten pin alleys, billiards and more. No tract remains of it on the map, and very little at the site.
Black Rock rests on the crest of South Mountain, north of route I 70. This rock is approachable by the Appalachian Trail. There was once a hotel here. Black Rock was a popular spot for Fourth of July gatherings and picnics.
Camp Louise is a camp that was established in 1922 for Jewish girls. It is situated 13 miles northeast of Hagerstown on South Mountain.
Kennedy Farm is marked on the map today as John Brown's Farm. A marker indicates the spot, however, the farm is now private land.
Elk Ridge is the northernmost end of the Blue Ridge, a mountain chain separated from the main area of the Appalachians by the Great Valley. The name describes a ridge, once abundant with elks, that begins at the Potomac River, running northwest for about nine miles. The southern end of Elk Ridge is called Maryland Heights--a nice view of Harper's Ferry. The northern end is near Rohrersville. Elk Ridge is said to be an important area for botanical study.
At the Washington County Four Locks, Nos. 47-50, 12 miles southeast of Hagerstown, is where the C&O Canal took a half-mile short cut across a 4-mile bend of the Potomac River.
Highfield is where the two branches of the Western Maryland Railroad meet again after crossing South Mountain. The "old main line" horseshoes over South Mountain, while the newer line has passes through Pennsylvania, taking in Gettysburg and Hanover, before returning. There is little traffic on either branch now; the old line stops at Westminster because of the floods of 1972.
High Rock is a point on South Mountain near Pen Mar, 11 miles northeast of Hagerstown. There, visitors can enjoy a fine view of the Great Valley. High Rock has always been a popular overlook since the golden Pen Mar days. Wagonloads of tourists would make the trip here. Today, it sees just as much traffic; roads are crowded with vehicles on summer weekends and a hang-gliding club has discovered that High Rock makes for a wonderful jumping-off spot.
Maryland Heights is a summit of Elk Ridge overlooking Harper's Ferry and the Potomac River. There is an historic fort here, built during the Civil War to protect the B&O Railroad and the C&O Canal. This area is approachable only by foot along the steep blazed trail, which begins near Sandy Hook. From 1862 to the end of the war, about 6,000 men were stationed at Maryland Heights at various times.